Rail Industry Fragmentation
Fragmentation within the rail industry leading to siloed decision-making and misaligned incentives, hindering integrated investment.
Strongest theme matches
Mixed across source types and ranked by classifier confidence plus text match strength.
Committee recommendation
100match
#24 - Government acknowledges rail industry fragmentation and commits to Great British Railways for integration.
We welcome the Government’s recognition that industry fragmentation has contributed to siloed decision-making and misaligned incentives between stakeholders, and its commitment to establishing a whole- system organisation, Great British Railways, to tackle this. We look forward to holding GBR and Ministers accountable for delivering on the promise of better and more integrated investment decisions. (Conclusion, Paragraph 117)
Matched on
exact phrase
terms: fragmentation, industry, rail
Committee recommendation
87match
#1 - Uncertain and uneven rail investment cycles weaken the UK rail industry sector.
The UK rail network is a core national asset, supporting its own industrial ecosystem and underpinning broader economic growth and employment. The message from the rail industry has been clear: investment in that asset has too often been characterised by cycles of ‘boom and bust’, with uneven and uncertain funding and procurement putting the viability of employers (including...
Matched on
terms: industry, rail
Committee recommendation
69match
#3 - Tenth Report - Overview of the English rail system
Published information from the Department and the Office of Rail and Road on whole-system costs and revenues is not sufficient to inform proper oversight of the rail system, given the extent of taxpayer exposure. The arrangements for delivering rail services in England involve complex financial flows and contractual obligations between a range of private and public sector bodies....
Matched on
terms: industry, rail
Inquiry recommendation
65match
10 - Rules and Group Standards clear and unambiguous
Railtrack must ensure that Rules and Group Standards applicable to operators, including drivers, are clear and unambiguous. In particular, Railtrack should urgently complete the review of operating Rules to ensure they are workable in the privatised, fragmented industry (para 16.6).
Matched on
terms: industry, rail
Inquiry recommendation
65match
1 - Co-operate on research into driver behaviour
All parties in the rail industry should co-operate in the collection of evidence to support reliable research into human behaviour studies relating to driver performance. Railtrack should co-ordinate this work and TOCs incorporate the results into training programmes (paras 1.25, 7.16, 16.2).
Matched on
terms: industry, rail
Committee recommendation
65match
#10 - Tenth Report - Overview of the English rail system
We were interested to hear the Department’s views on the main issues caused by the rail system’s current structural organisation. The Department recognised that problems have emerged over a number of years, partly the result of poor alignment between Network Rail, responsible for rail infrastructure, and operators, responsible for delivering passenger services. The Department highlighted issues around missed...
Matched on
terms: industry, rail
Committee recommendation
62match
#1 - Committee supports the Railways Bill's purpose to establish Great British Railways as the 'directing mind'.
We recognise the need for structural change on the railways. We support the main purpose of the Railways Bill: to establish Great British Railways as a single organisation overseeing both track and train, and capable of acting as a ‘directing mind’ for the railway. (Conclusion, Paragraph 3)
Matched on
terms: rail
Committee recommendation
60match
#25 - Tenth Report - Overview of the English rail system
But Network Rail recognised that there “is still a mountain to climb” to achieve the full efficiency improvements it has committed to, and that it will need to continue to increase savings.63 Network Rail estimated that 60% of remaining planned efficiencies would come from renewals activities (like for like replacements to renew the railway).64 However, the Office of...
Matched on
terms: industry, rail
PFD report
57match
Robert Mullis
A vulnerable, partially sighted passenger with dementia was able to disembark a train unsupervised at an intermediate station, subsequently accessing railway tracks and being struck by trains.
Matched on
terms: rail
PFD report
57match
Richard Hill
The coroner identified a lack of telephones and Network Rail contact information at the crossing, noting the possibility of repeat incidents at or near this location.
Matched on
terms: rail
PFD report
57match
Christopher McGuffie
The coroner noted the absence of immediate and effective alert systems at railway stations for persons on the line, as well as alternative detection methods to trigger appropriate responses.
Matched on
terms: rail
Committee recommendation
56match
#10 - Pandemic exposed rail cost challenges and created conflicting priorities for financial framework.
The Department told us that the pandemic presented a fundamental challenge to sustainably funding the railways and that the financial pressures have driven a stronger focus to look at the whole system and improve performance, both financially and for passengers.21 The pandemic also exposed the scale of challenge on costs. Network Rail told us that, in previous years,...
Matched on
terms: rail
Committee recommendation
55match
#18 - Seventeenth Report- HS2 Summer 2021
HS2 Ltd recognised that the integration of railway systems would be crucial and explained that it planned to establish a collaborative alliance amongst the main railway systems contractors to encourage them to work together to deliver the integrated systems. Although HS2 Ltd’s pre-contract market engagement found suppliers to be receptive to this approach, it also admitted this was...
Matched on
terms: industry, rail
Inquiry recommendation
53match
8 - Monitor driver transfers and numbers trained
Railtrack and ATOC should monitor the transfer of drivers between operators and the numbers of drivers trained by each TOC and consider whether there are any safety implications involved (paras 5.5, 16.5).
Matched on
terms: rail
Inquiry recommendation
53match
7 - National qualification and accreditation system for drivers
Railtrack together with ATOC should establish a national qualification and accreditation system for drivers including centrally held records to be available to the current employer (paras 5.5, 16.5).
Matched on
terms: rail
Inquiry recommendation
53match
LADB-66 - Establish system to collect human factors data on passenger safety after rail accidents
A system should be established for the collection of human factors information pertinent to issues of passenger safety following rail accidents (para 14.8).
Matched on
terms: rail
Inquiry recommendation
53match
LADB-62 - Extend Railway Safety Case Regulations to include emergency escape arrangements explicitly
The scope of Schedule 1 to the Railway (Safety Case) Regulations 2000 should be extended so as to include explicitly the arrangements which the duty holder has established in regard to facilities, instructions and signs for the escape of persons in an emergency (para 14.3).
Matched on
terms: rail
Inquiry recommendation
53match
LADB-8 - Railtrack to complete signal risk assessments for the Paddington area promptly.
Railtrack should ensure that the risk assessments and any consequent actions required under Group Standard GK/RT 0078 in respect of the signals in the Paddington area are carried out as soon as possible (para 7.125).
Matched on
terms: rail
Inquiry recommendation
53match
LADB-6 - Improve Railtrack procedures for implementing and monitoring accepted recommendations with clear accountability
Railtrack procedures, and the actions of management to enforce them, should be directed to ensuring that: (i) a recommendation which is accepted is implemented according to a defined timescale; (ii) the person to whom a recommendation is allocated for implementation is required to report periodically the action which has been taken, the state of progress and the reasons...
Matched on
terms: rail
Committee recommendation
53match
#13 - Tenth Report - Overview of the English rail system
The Rail white paper outlines government’s plans for a new rail system, with one body responsible for overseeing infrastructure and passenger services and with less complex financial transactions.32 The Office of Rail and Road told us that such a “guiding mind” could add much needed accountability for the whole system.33
Matched on
terms: rail
Committee recommendation
53match
#11 - Tenth Report - Overview of the English rail system
After our evidence session, on 20 May, the Department published its long-delayed Rail white paper, which outlines its “once-in-a-generation” reforms planned for the rail system, including replacing franchising and better integrating infrastructure with passenger services.25 The Department acknowledges that it must overcome a “complex and…deep-rooted set of issues” to improve the system, and that such a large reform...
Matched on
terms: rail
Committee recommendation
53match
#9 - Tenth Report - Overview of the English rail system
We have previously reported on the problems inherent in the rail system which have led to poor performance and reliability of the network. Even before the pandemic, we and the Transport Committee had reported on the Department’s franchising model and concluded that it was a broken model.21 We reported in 2018 that the Department’s management of two important...
Matched on
terms: rail
Committee recommendation
53match
#2 - Tenth Report - Overview of the English rail system
In recent years, we have identified serious failings in the rail system, and the Department must now overcome significant long-standing issues to bring about complex reform. We have previously reported on the problems inherent in the rail system, such as: poor performance and reliability of the network; the lack of accountability and Departmental oversight and the Department’s poor...
Matched on
terms: rail
Committee recommendation
53match
#13 - First Report - Railway Infrastructure in Wales
The Williams-Shapps review said that the UK Government wishes to establish a new working agreement between Great British Railways (GBR) and Transport for Wales. We believe that the Wales Rail Board we have recommended would be the correct setting in which to negotiate new arrangements which should support the enhancement of rail infrastructure as part of a joined-up...
Matched on
terms: rail
Committee recommendation
53match
#11 - First Report - Railway Infrastructure in Wales
If clear benefits for both passengers and freight users could be delivered by devolving rail infrastructure to the Welsh Government then the case for further devolution would be compelling. However, few benefits to rail users have been identified and the benefits of the existing management arrangements are considerable. The liabilities associated with rail infrastructure are significant. The economies...
Matched on
terms: rail
NAO recommendation
53match
Rail reform: the rail transformation programme
DfT and GBRTT should work closely with the rail sector to continue building culture change and support a ?whole systems? approach to the rail sector ahead of any legislative changes
Matched on
terms: rail
Committee recommendation
52match
#17 - Tenth Report - Overview of the English rail system
The Department updated us on the Emergency Recovery Measures Agreements (ERMAs), which it put in place as an overlay to franchising agreements in response to the dramatic loss in passenger revenue caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The ERMAs transferred all cost risk and revenue risk from operators to the Department and were put in place to ensure the...
Matched on
terms: rail
Committee recommendation
52match
#8 - Tenth Report - Overview of the English rail system
The Department referred to its recently published strategies on bus travel18 and cycling and walking19 and told us that integration between modes of transport is “critical” to make public transport an attractive and practical choice for passengers.20 However, in these documents we can see only limited reference to integrated travel and even less detail on how such integration...
Matched on
terms: rail
Committee recommendation
52match
#5 - Tenth Report - Overview of the English rail system
We are disappointed at the lack of progress in agreeing a specific and funded plan for the electrification required to achieve the government’s own net zero targets. Electrification of the network is the key mechanism for delivering rail decarbonisation. It will require a significant level of investment (estimated between £18 billion and £26 billion, 2020 prices) and the...
Matched on
terms: rail
Committee recommendation
52match
#4 - Tenth Report - Overview of the English rail system
It is not yet clear that the interim National Rail contracts fairly distribute risks between government and operators, or provide incentives for operators to deliver efficient, high-quality, and value-for-money passenger services. In previous reports the Committee highlighted failings in the Department’s previous commercial model of rail franchising. The COVID-19 pandemic brought an end to this approach and transferred...
Matched on
terms: rail
Committee recommendation
52match
#10 - First Report - Railway Infrastructure in Wales
Network Rail’s revised structure has helped Network Rail respond to incidents in Wales, build relationships with Transport for Wales (TfW) and sharpen its focus on Wales and borders services. However, Network Rail should be alive to concerns that its regional structure will lessen its focus on supporting an all-Wales approach to integrated transport. Network Rail’s regional structure must...
Matched on
terms: rail
Committee recommendation
48match
#9 - 2nd Report - Must do better: the Office for Students and the looming crisis facing higher...
The proliferation of regulators in the higher education sector has caused duplication and red tape, increasing the burdens on providers—particularly in the area of graduate apprenticeships, where at least four other regulators have responsibilities in addition to the OfS. This issue is exacerbated by the apparent lack of effective collaboration between regulators.
Matched on
terms: industry
Committee recommendation
48match
#26 - Tenth Report - Overview of the English rail system
In 2020, the Office of Rail and Road reported inherent uncertainty in the value of some of the efficiency savings made by Network Rail in 2019–20.69 The Office of Rail and Road told us that it has now agreed a set of indicators with Network Rail which measure the likelihood of Network Rail meeting its efficiency targets for...
Matched on
terms: rail
Committee recommendation
48match
#24 - Tenth Report - Overview of the English rail system
In the first year of Control Period 6 (2019–20), Network Rail exceeded its planned efficiency savings; achieving £385 million compared to £316 million expected.61 The Office of Rail and Road told us that Network Rail has improved its efficiency through the development of a bottom-up business plan which routes and regions are bought into.62
Matched on
terms: rail
Committee recommendation
48match
#23 - Tenth Report - Overview of the English rail system
The Office of Rail and Road told us that in Control Period 5 (2014–15 to 2018–19), Network Rail became less efficient and failed to meet efficiency targets.58 Indeed, in contrast to assumptions made by the Office of Rail and Road that Network Rail could improve the efficiency of its core business activities by 19.4% during Control Period 5,...
Matched on
terms: rail
Committee recommendation
48match
#22 - Tenth Report - Overview of the English rail system
The Department acknowledged that long-term, strategic direction on electrification is needed to provide market certainty for operators, rolling stock companies and the procurement of trains that will be able to operate on the network and to drive innovation. It also recognised that its erratic approach had resulted in “some extremely inefficient outcomes in terms of cost”.56 Written evidence...
Matched on
terms: rail
Committee recommendation
48match
#21 - Tenth Report - Overview of the English rail system
The Department told us that electrifying the rail network is a key part of decarbonising and achieving net zero on the railway and that to ensure success, a steady long-term plan for electrification is needed. However, the Department acknowledged that its approach to electrification in recent years has reflected a “feast-and-famine” attitude.53 Data published by Network Rail shows...
Matched on
terms: rail
Committee recommendation
48match
#19 - Tenth Report - Overview of the English rail system
We were concerned that the short-term nature of these new contracts could fail to incentivise operators to make cost savings and improve performance, and asked the Department to explain how operators would be incentivised to keep costs down. The Department said that the annual business planning approach will help identify where cost reductions are needed and that its...
Matched on
terms: rail
Committee recommendation
48match
#18 - Tenth Report - Overview of the English rail system
Following our session on 13 May 2021, the Department told the Transport Committee that negotiations with all train operators have concluded around terminating the underlying franchise agreements, which is necessary to enable the transition of operators 37 Qq 19, 31 38 C&AG’s report, pp 8, 15 39 Committee of Public Accounts, Rail franchising in the UK, Twenty-Fifth Report...
Matched on
terms: rail
Committee recommendation
48match
#16 - Tenth Report - Overview of the English rail system
Our previous reports have covered some of the commercial difficulties caused by the Department’s franchising model. In the worst-case scenarios, issues such as over- optimistic assumptions of passenger growth led to severe operator losses and early contract terminations.39 These contract terminations accelerated the Department’s exposure to the commercial issues in the franchising system as, after termination, the Department...
Matched on
terms: rail
Committee recommendation
48match
#15 - Tenth Report - Overview of the English rail system
The Department acknowledged that there were significant challenges inherent in its franchising model used prior to the pandemic. It told us that the previous surplus in franchising costs had become a deficit prior to the pandemic.37 During the final four years of Control Period 5 (2015–16 to 2018–19), net government funding for franchised operators increased from a surplus...
Matched on
terms: rail
Committee recommendation
48match
#14 - Tenth Report - Overview of the English rail system
Specifically in relation to passenger service operations, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, private sector companies operated passenger services under a franchise model but still received some level of government funding. The amount of government funding provided to train operators has increased in recent years, changing from a net surplus paid to the Department to net a deficit paid...
Matched on
terms: rail
Committee recommendation
48match
#12 - Tenth Report - Overview of the English rail system
Since privatisation in the 1990s, cash flows in the rail system have become increasingly complex. Although the rail system is privatised, government still provides significant funding for infrastructure operations, maintenance and renewals, and ongoing subsidy for passenger service operations. The National Audit office’s report identifies that the lack of a complete set of public data makes it difficult...
Matched on
terms: rail
Committee recommendation
48match
#7 - Tenth Report - Overview of the English rail system
As well as providing critical revenue for the rail system, passenger rail travel supports wider government objectives around transport decarbonisation and achieving net zero. We asked the Department how they planned to encourage people out of their cars onto rail. It outlined current activities by the Rail Revenue Recovery Group, including communications and marketing activities to reassure passengers...
Matched on
terms: rail
Committee recommendation
48match
#20 - Tenth Report - Overview of the English rail system
Net government funding increased 99.7% in real terms between 2015–16 and 2019–20 from £2.6 billion to £5.1 billion. This reflects increases in expenditure on operating and maintaining rail network infrastructure and the pre-COVID-19 deterioration in the passenger rail market as growth in rail passengers plateaued.3 In addition, the Department told us that an estimated £8.5 billion of government...
Matched on
terms: rail
Committee recommendation
48match
#6 - Tenth Report - Overview of the English rail system
It is not clear to us how Network Rail expects to achieve the remaining efficiencies planned in Control Period 6. In Control Period 5 (2014–15 to 2018–19), Network Rail failed to achieve its efficiencies target as agreed with the Office of Rail and Road (ORR). In the first two years of Control Period 6 (2019–20 and 2020–21), Network...
Matched on
terms: rail
Committee recommendation
48match
#5 - Urgently resolve fundamental disagreements with stakeholders on Great British Railways' role and commercial model.
Six years since the Department started work on rail reform, it has failed to resolve fundamental disagreements and clarify key aspects of reform. The Department acknowledges that, while its white paper set the broad direction and detail for some areas of reform, there were still disagreements with HM Treasury and other stakeholders in some important areas. Unresolved issues...
Matched on
terms: rail
PFD report
45match
Lauris Kodors
The RSSB Rule Book permits stopping trains only if a person may cause damage to a train, but not when a person is in danger from a train.
Matched on
classifier match
PFD report
45match
Carl Klimaytys
The coroner raised concerns for the Three Bridges Regional Operating Centre (ROC) about the discovery of a body by a member of the public at Preston Park Station.
Matched on
classifier match
PFD report
45match
Croydon Tram Incident
The coroner noted the absence of a centrally funded national tram safety passenger group.
Matched on
classifier match